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This is an illuminated and illustrated Safavid copy of the Book of kings (Shāhnāmah) by Firdawsī (d. 411 or 416 AH / 1020-5
CE), dating to the tenth century AH / sixteenth CE. The text is largely written in black nastaʿlīq script with headings in
blue on a polychrome ground. The codex opens with an illuminated medallion (fol. 1a), followed by a double-page illuminated
frontispiece (fols. 1b-2a), poorly preserved. The preface, ordered by Bāysunghur in 829 AH / 1425-6 CE, begins on fol. 2b.
The Shāhnāmah text begins on fol. 14b with an inscribed illuminated titlepiece. It is divided into two parts. Eighteen paintings
illustrate the text. The black lacquer binding with lobed central ovals and pendants is not contemporary with the manuscript
and dates to the thirteenth century AH / nineteenth CE.

Comment: In addition to 620a, colophons are also on 14a and 303a: the first, which has no date, gives the title of the preface as Dībāchah-i
Bāysunghurī; the second marks the end of the first part of the book; and the third has a damaged date: end of Dhū al-Ḥijjah
9[?]5

Support material

Paper

Laid paper

Extent

Foliation: i+621+i

Collation

Catchwords: Written obliquely on versos

Dimensions

19.0 cm wide by 32.5 cm high

Written surface

12.5 cm wide by 25.5 cm high

Layout

Columns: 4

Ruled lines: 25

Framing lines in blue, gold, brown, and black

Contents:

fols. 1a - 620b:

Title: Shāhnāmah

Author: Firdawsī

Text note: Preface by Bāysunghur Mīrzā ibn Shāhrukh, composed in 829 AH / 1425-6 CE (fols. 1b-14a); main text divided into two parts,
the second part with the title Luhrāsbnāmah (fol. 303b); double-page illuminated frontispiece before the preface (fols. 1b-2a)
badly damaged

Hand note: Written in nastaʿlīq script in black, blue, and gold with chapter/section headings in blue on a decorated background; incidentals
in blue and gold

Decoration note: Eighteen illustrations; double-page illuminated frontispiece with a faded inscription in four cartouches introducing the work
and author (fols. 1b-2a); illuminated medallion (shamsah) (fol. 1a); titlepiece with the inscription aghāz-i kitāb-i Shāhnāmah
in white ink on a decorated background (fol. 14b); titlepiece inscribed with the title of the second part: Kitāb-i Luhrāsb
nāmah (fol. 303b); three tailpieces around the colophons (fols. 14a, 303a, and 620a); rectangular panels for chapter/section
headings; frame

Decoration:

Upper board outside:

Title: Binding

Form: Binding

Label: This black lacquer binding with lobed central ovals and pendants is not contemporary with the manuscript and probably dates
to the thirteenth century AH / nineteenth CE.

fol. 1a:

Title: Illuminated medallion

Form: Medallion

Label: This illuminated medallion (shamsah) with a blue ground and gold arabesques and polychrome roundels opens the codex. There
are later inscriptions, including an ownership entry dated 12 Jumādá I 1204 AH / 1789 CE. The seal at the left gives the name
Aḥmad.

fol. 1b:

Title: Double-page illuminated frontispiece

Form: Frontispiece

Label: This is the right side of a double-page illuminated frontispiece that precedes the preface of the text. The inscriptions are
not legible.

fol. 2a:

Title: Double-page illuminated frontispiece

Form: Frontispiece

Label: This is the left side of a double-page illuminated frontispiece that precedes the preface of the text. The inscriptions are
not legible.

fol. 2b:

Title: Text page of Shāhnāmah preface

Form: Text page

Label: This is the first page of the preface ordered by Bāysunghur in 829 AH / 1425-6 CE. The text is largely written in black nastaʿlīq
script with incidentals in blue and gold. The preface ends on fol. 14a with a colophon.

fol. 14b:

Title: Incipit page with illuminated titlepiece

Form: Incipit; titlepiece

Label: This illuminated titlepiece is inscribed aghāz-i kitāb-i Shāhnāmah (the beginning of the book of the Shāhnāmah) in white ink
on a blue ground with polychrome decoration.

fol. 17b:

Title: The court of Kayūmars

Form: Illustration

fol. 48b:

Title: Zāl in the court of Miḥrāb of Kabul

Form: Illustration

fol. 91a:

Title: Rustam slays the White Dīv (the seventh feat)

Form: Illustration

fol. 115a:

Title: Rustam mortally wounds Suhrāb

Form: Illustration

fol. 145a:

Title: The beheading of Siyāvush

Form: Illustration

fol. 163a:

Title: Kay Khusraw attacks the fortress of Bahman

Form: Illustration

fol. 178a:

Title: The Turanians fight the Persians

Form: Illustration

fol. 216a:

Title: The combat of Rustam and Pūlādvand

Form: Illustration

fol. 236b:

Title: Rustam rescues Bīzhan from the pit

Form: Illustration

fol. 264b:

Title: Gustaham fights Lahhāk and Farshīdvard

Form: Illustration

fol. 303b:

Title: Luhrāsp enthroned

Form: Illustration

Label: This is the right side of a double-page illustration introducing the Book of Luhrāsp. The inscription in the middle eight-pointed
star of the titlepiece reads: Kitāb-i Luhrāsb nāmah.

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manuscripts, The Walters Art Museum, 600 North Charles Street, Baltimore MD 21201.